Can a Tub-and-Shower Combo Be Converted Into a Steam Shower?

Published September 27, 2026

Summary

Sometimes. The tub itself is not the main obstacle. The space has to become a true steam enclosure from the tub rim or floor to the ceiling, and the walls, ceiling, waterproofing, generator, steam line, electrical supply, drainage, and controls all need workable locations. A tub-and-shower with only a curtain and an open top is not enough.

First, decide whether the space can actually be enclosed

Steam escapes through an open top or around a curtain. Delta's build guide says to order a door made for steam showers; these are typically sealed on both sides and the top, and a transom can close the gap between the door and the ceiling.

That can be difficult in a small alcove with a window, unusual soffit, or awkward geometry. Delta also says skylights should never be used inside a steam shower, and it suggests building a separate roof over the shower, below the bathroom ceiling, when the room is taller than the 8-foot maximum it gives for the enclosure.

The tub may be able to stay

Amerec's installation manual for its AK generators gives two heights for the steam line: 18 inches above the floor, or at least 12 inches above a tub rim or ledge.

Delta's guide also allows for a tub when placing the control: about 4 feet above the floor and, where there is a tub, 6 inches above it. Neither instruction says a particular alcove will work.

Steam-head location matters

Amerec's steam head instructions say outlets should not vent steam onto a user, and the head should not go near a bench or where condensation will drip on someone. In a tub alcove, the tub rim, any seat, and the steam head all compete for the same short wall.

The wall and ceiling assembly may need to be rebuilt

A shower that has handled ordinary bathing for years may still have been built with materials or waterproofing that are not appropriate for repeated steam exposure.

If the walls are already being opened during a remodel, that is the time to correct the waterproofing, ceiling, and vapor-control details. MrSteam notes that only the part of the ceiling inside the steam shower has to be tiled and water-sealed.

Treat it as a bathroom conversion, not a generator add-on

A tub-and-shower conversion depends on the enclosure, surfaces, plumbing, power, drainage, steam-line route, controls, and service access working together.

Sources

Specifications, prices and installation requirements are as the makers published them on these pages on the date above and can change. Check the current manual and the retailer before you buy.